Caves / Forts worth exploring?

[Larry]

I've done a lot of the caves and forts and they mostly seem to just be random dungeons with random loot to the point I've stopped going into them in the main game. I'm L30, have 300k gold and maxed most of my prime stats with what I am assuming is the best armor in the game for a fighter class: the set you get from Knights of the Nine quest.

Is there any reason to do the caves/forts unless there are quests requesting you go into them? I've just started the Shivering Isles and I'm tempted to do the same thing: Skip them because I don't need anything from them. Should I for the DLC or should I go ahead and do them?

[Supernautilus]

Yeah, if you're maxed out on loot and gear then there is not much reason to explore. Unless you just like exploring.

[Larry]

Grand so! This is definitely the same for Shivering Isles?

[Lokaror]

Originally posted by Larry:

Grand so! This is definitely the same for Shivering Isles?

I will say random exploring in the shivering isles is a little more rewarding because of the matrixes and museum items, but your going to run into the same issue.

[EMDream]

Originally posted by Larry:

I've done a lot of the caves and forts and they mostly seem to just be random dungeons with random loot to the point I've stopped going into them in the main game. I'm L30, have 300k gold and maxed most of my prime stats with what I am assuming is the best armor in the game for a fighter class: the set you get from Knights of the Nine quest.

Is there any reason to do the caves/forts unless there are quests requesting you go into them? I've just started the Shivering Isles and I'm tempted to do the same thing: Skip them because I don't need anything from them. Should I for the DLC or should I go ahead and do them?

To answer your question directly - No, there is no need to do any random dungeons unless a quest points you to it. Loot Scaling Peaks Around L25-L30: After that, most gear rolls are maxed out, and you'll mostly find duplicate or sell fodder items. Enemies Don’t Scale Infinitely: You’ll rarely be truly challenged unless you’re doing self-imposed difficulty or permadeath runs. Most Dungeons Are Filler: They serve atmosphere and lore but don’t offer unique rewards outside of quests. So unless you're role playing, achievement hunting, or exploring for immersion’s sake, you’re not missing much by skipping random dungeons.

Somewhat off topic the best loot in the game is actually in a cave called Fyrelight Cave.

Fyrelight Cave is a notable location for players seeking high-level enchanted loot, particularly rings and amulets. Situated just southwest of Skingrad along the road, the cave features a unique setup that facilitates a popular loot farming exploit. Fyrelight Cave has two entrances; the exploit is best accessed via the second entrance, located below the main road. Upon entering, proceed to the right until you encounter a trapdoor leading to a lower chamber. In this chamber, you'll find a boss-level chest beneath the trapdoor. This chest has a 25% chance to contain a randomly generated enchanted ring or amulet, making it a prime spot for farming valuable items. This is the best way to get certain high level rings, amulets, and armor pieces without using console commands. It's also a great way to get the master level alchemy equipment that only spawns in chests now. Just save before entering the trap door and than loot the chest and rest for 73 hours and repeat.

[spearten.com]

Yeah, dungeons will feel like an afterthought after a certain point, with quests being the main attraction. Since gear and enemies level with you, the whole world will be the same difficulty, so really it becomes a matter of how many extra chests and boss tier npcs are there. I loved playing classic Oblivion with things like Maskar's Oblivion Overhaul to fix those issues, but the game is still too new for those tiers of mods.

[Larry]

Alright, happy days that should sort me for the DLC so!